Australian Emma Moffatt Wins Hy-Vee 5150 US Triathlon Championship and results

Australian Emma Moffatt has just won the most contested Olympic distance race on the non-drafting triathlon circuit, the Hy-Vee 5150 Triathlon, and taken home $100,000 for her efforts.

Fellow Aussie and former steeple chase runner Melissa Hauschildt ran through the field to finish in second. Hauschildt posted the fastest run of the day, a 34:52, to make up for a slow start in the swim. German Triathlete Svenja Bazlen, a 2012 London Olympian, finished in third.

Two times winner and defending Champion Lisa Norden of Sweden withdrew on the morning of the race, following an announcement the start would be delayed due to inclement weather. Lisa was favorite for the title both this weekend and next, at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Las Vegas. Her withdrawal from Hy-Vee would have to put serious doubt on her ability to challenge for the crown next weekend.  Lisa reported via twitter “Unfortunately, I’m not able to able to race … sadly, my body is not strong enough to handle the challenge”.

Despite Norden’s withdrawal, with by far the most talented and diverse field to assemble in a triathlon this year, the race was always going to be a battle to the finish. Moffatt set her day up with an 18:45 minute swim, leaving the water with Kiwi triathlete Nikki Samuels, and two ex-swimmers from the USA Lauren Brandon and Catherine Jameson. It was Brandon who started the bike in front, perhaps a surprise to some but it was still very early days.

Whilst Moffatt was working hard on the bike, eventual second place finisher Hauschildt was still swimming, exiting the water 2:25 down on her fellow Australian and accompanying lead women. Hauschildt always knew the swim would be the biggest hurdle in her attempt to win the race, and today it proved too much of a deficit to chase down. Hauschildt will now be refocusing in preparation for next week’s Ironman 70.3 World Championship, a crown she has her eyes fiercely set upon.

Multiple Ironman Champion Meredith Kessler finished an incredible seventh place following a testing lead up to the race. Kessler has proven her ability over all distances this year, with victories at Ironman New Zealand, Ironman 70.3 St George, Vineman and Lake Stevens, and a second place finish in her first Olympic distance as a professional at the Columbia 5150.

Liz Blatchford showed she hasn’t lost her short course speed after a switch to long course racing, finishing in ninth. Liz will be racing her first Ironman World Championship in Kona this year so we look forward to watching the Aussie’s debut performance.

Professional women’s results: